Online Article: PlayBack Magazine - December 2000

On set: Big Sound
Thu, Dec 19, 2000 by Elizabeth Levine
 

Vancouver: This is a set that sings. Global Television's Big Sound - the first sitcom to be filmed in British Columbia - is crewed by people who spend their time making music of their own when not setting lights, running cable or spritzing the talent's hairdos.

Produced by Vancouver's Peace Arch Entertainment, the 22-episode series owes much to the Garry Shandling school of ironic, paradoxical, what's-real-what-isn't comedies. Based at a musical agency, Big Sound pokes fun at the music industry and features musical stars who play themselves.

Seems fitting that the crew knows as much about making music as making movies: Big Sound has brought together all parts of the music industry - from larger-than-life producers like Sam Feldman to lamp operator Stuart Collison, who plays the guitar in his basement.

And music to a nationalist's ear, Big Sound has brought big talent back home to Canada - from singers like Chantal Kreviazuk and Jann Arden to Canadian-born director, writer and producer David Steinberg, who has been in the u.s. writing and directing series such as Seinfeld and Mad About You.

Not to be outshone, however, crew have on-set talent shows that executive producer Michelle White says can "go on until all hours."

For instance, first assistant director John Mavrogeorge plays traditional Greek folk music and second assistant director Harry Keith is a dj. The crew takes breaks to chat about chord progressions with the likes of rocker Melissa Etheridge and actor Colin Cunningham's eyes brighten when drummer Stuart Copeland comes on set.

"The Police were my favorite band," reflects Cunningham, who also has a recurring role on the Showtime satire Beggars and Choosers. "I did a lot of covers of them."

White, who admits to a lack of musical ability herself, says that despite Canada's reputation for exportable comedians, the Big Sound series is inspired by "the strong untapped roots of comedy here in Canada."

Traditional American network sitcoms are seeing their audience numbers slip, so it's an ideal time to get Big Sound on the market, she adds. "The quality of the show is as good as any u.s. network sitcom," she insists. "The set is a creative outlet without any big stressful production concerns."

Perhaps she has forgotten about the departure of Frank van Keeken, a former Big Sound writer and executive producer, who left in October in one of those "mutually-agreed-to-end-the-relationship" fogs.

Big Sound star Greg Evigan plays Bill Sutton, a failed musician and embittered producer. Gemini Award-winning Deanna Milligan acts as his secretary Jessie Polt.

In rehearsal for one scene, Milligan is diligently repeating the pronunciation of 'Kreviazuk' over and over. "I have to say her name three times in the next scene," she explains. "[My character has] been having trouble saying it properly."

As Kreviazuk, playing herself in the scene, nervously awaits news from her producer, Evigan's character gets increasingly frustrated with the pronunciation of her name. "If anyone can say her name correctly three times," he bursts out, "I'll give them a free cd."

Kreviazuk doesn't show any concern that the joke is at her expense. "It's a blast to work on this set, I'm really enjoying it," she says. "The whole concept is a lot of fun. I look at the people on set and the standard is really high. I am glad to be back home doing a Canadian show with Canadian talent."

When it comes to ordering a new sitcom, American networks traditionally propose a budget of only 13 episodes. But here in Canada, creator Steinberg was rewarded with a full 22-episode season, an offer that surely had a nice ring to it. With a full season of work to offer, Steinberg says he is able to attract experienced talent and crew to pursue an opportunity that is fresh and not a typical sitcom format.

Loren Mawhinney, vice-president of Canadian productions for Global Television, is equally excited about this new Canadian television format.

"There is a great cast and a wonderful set," she says, "and we can't wait for the premier to see how our viewers will respond."